Two rookie college football coaches have their teams undefeated. Two rival Cleveland high school quarterbacks power their sensational offenses. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 in both points scored and points allowed.

It can't get any better than Saturday's Division III showdown between John Carroll and Mount Union at Mount Union Stadium. For the first time since 1998, two 9-0, 8-0 Ohio Athletic Conference teams collide in the final week of the regular season for the league championship.

To get to this point, the No. 1 Purple Raiders dispatched previously unbeaten Heidelberg 44-34 in Week 8. The Blue Streaks then destroyed Heidelberg 48-7 last week to move up to No. 9 in the American Football Coaches Association Division III poll.

Softened up by Mount Union, Heidelberg was held to a season low in points and yards and it allowed a season high to first-year coach Tom Arth's Blue Streaks. Junior quarterback Mark Myers completed 31 of 44 passes for 387 yards, throwing three touchdowns to Aramis Greenwood in what was a blowout early on.

The Blue Streaks lead the nation by allowing just 3.7 points per game and scoring 45.7 points per game, which ranks fourth nationally. Quite impressive considering John Carroll was picked fifth in preseason voting by both the media and OAC coaches.

"I have been impressed with John Carroll in all phases of the game," Purple Raiders head coach Vince Kehres said. "I felt the same way about Heidelberg going in. I definitely feel the OAC at the top is very strong this year. We've got two or three teams that are playoff (caliber) teams, and that's what prepares you for the playoffs.

"We're in the playoff grind early this year. It's not something we can control. But I think it's always better to play tough teams and put guys in difficult situations."

John Carroll has not been in many of those. Its closest game was a 27-7 road win over a ranked Baldwin Wallace team. By comparison, Mount beat the Yellow Jackets 30-0 last week.

Kehres said his defense — fourth in scoring (10.2) — will have to pressure Myers. A former St. Ignatius star, the 6-5, 220-pounder lettered at Pittsburgh before transferring to JCU last season. He's thrown 25 TD passes, his 2,581 passing yards top the OAC and he's ninth in Division III in efficiency rating (170.3).

Rushing him won't be easy, Kehres said, even after his unit had a season-high seven sacks last week.

"In nine games, he's only taken three sacks," he pointed out, none in the last seven games. "He gets the ball out really quick, with accuracy and velocity.

"The challenge for us is can we get pressure on him."

That's the same issue Arth's defense is faced with in tracking Kevin Burke. The Mount junior quarterback just keeps getting better, as does his running and receiving game.

Page 2 of 2 - The junior had 400 total yards, four touchdown passes and no picks against Heidelberg. Burke ran for one score and threw for two against BW, and now has 28 touchdown passes and 2,173 passing yards and a 196.48 efficiency rating, second in the nation.

Bradley Mitchell's emergence at tailback and a solidified line completes the Raiders' offense. Mitchell, a 5-6, 165-pound freshman, has back-to-back 110-yard games. For the season, he's gained 630 yards at 7.2 per carry.

"I think where we've most developed as the season's went on ... is the offensive line," Kehres said. "We have five new lineman and we're averaging 300 yards rushing.

"I think Bradley has really come on strong. But Mason Minnick has been productive and we can still count on Germany (Woods).

"I think we're a better running team than people thought we'd be."

Just like John Carroll is a better team than most thought it would be this year.